All good things must come to an end….

Not a super cold night but relatively glad of sleeping bag and the thermals were just the trick both for sleeping and undercover for the chill of the morning activities.

The morning started at 5:30 with tea/coffee and then we mounted camels to view the sunrise. All present, though some apprehensive – some growling beasts, and some very cute babies. We were reassured that the camels were very well treated by the Bedouin and they looked healthy and were affectionate with their owner, a good sign. We were selected for size and pointed to various beasts which we mounted and held on for dear life as they tilted forward and backward sharply rising and stepping down. Once on though they were suprisingly comfortable though when I crossed my front leg in front a la Lawrence of Arabia I was directed back to traditional horse riding posture. Happily my beast was in front leading the pack and off we set. The babies accompanied their mothers walking alongside and there were intermittent grunts from the camels – mine particularly when getting up, I certainly don’t blame him. Again, there were other camel trains encountered but less than people yesterday so we had a relatively quiet rendering of sunrise including some birdsongs. Very pretty. We were walked back to camp where we had a leisurely breakfast (noting that we all now smelled of campfire), packed up and headed out for a rendezvous with our big bus again, for the big city of Amman and the end of the tour. Most of us slept during the 4 hour journey, with pit stops (gas stations tended to have junky souvenir shops but excellent clean bathrooms), a brief stop for falafel sandwiches fetched to the bus by our trusty guide and then it was back in the traffic. Checked into the same lousy hotel as we started in, but only needed to have a shower and repack before heading out to the airport at 6 p.m. – that is if the flight leaves….. learning not to hold my breath. Of course the shower didn’t work, and there was no hairdryer…. there’s a kettle in this hotel, but no plug for it. Aiyayai…..

Goodbye dinner is tonight, and one of the members has made a humorous “awards ceremony” type presentation for it but I am heading to the airport so met with the group for a drink mid afternoon to say goodbye. No bar of course – doesn’t open until 5 p.m. supposedly…. Great group, there was no strife, nobody annoying and a very congenial bunch – a good start to my first “tour” (not counting trekking holidays for some reason). We have set up a chat group in what’s app which is going off no end at this moment with the bike guide sharing pictures and hope to get others as well – most folk are going directly home.

And hoping to find a lounge at Queen Alia airport once I make it through security etc……

Memories of the day: Camels! Sad to say goodbye to our excellent guide and fun group, and hope I come across some of the group members again in future trips.